Picking and harvesting machine



Aug. 8, 1933. A. J. BEHLlNG PICKING AND HARVEST-'ING MACHINE F i1Ved"J an. 22. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Allg- 8, 1933 A. J. BEHLING PICKING AND HARVISTIHG MACHINE v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1952 am, AM, n MM M uw .Y e v QSA.

Aug. s, 1933. A. J. BEHLING 1,921,651

PICKING AND HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 22, 1932 s sheets-sheet` s Figa.

APatented Aug.' 1933 A A PICKING AND HRVESTING MACHINE Arthur J.. Behiing, Chicago, Ill.,assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Pioneer Fruit Harvtsting Company, a Corporation of 'Minneso Application January 22, 1932. Serial No. 588,102

16 claims. -(ci. ss-azs) This invention relates to picking and harvestthe travel 'of the machine over the ground to ing machines and particularly to a machine for p'ick the fruit to best advantage. l Y picking articles such'as fruit and nuts from the These and other objects and advantages of ground. the invention will be fully set forth in the fol-` My improved machine, although capable of lowing description made inl connection with the 60 wide general use for picking and harvesting, is accompanying drawings, in which like reference particularly y applicable for harvesting prune characters refer to similar parts throughout the plums. These plums, when ripe, drop to the several views, and in which:-' ground and theentire crop must usually be picked Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of 410 within a few weeks. At the present time hand my invention, a few of the parts being broken 65 labor is employed and the ground below the away te better show some of the construction; trees is harrowed and dragged to prevent in-jury- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the pickermechto the fallen fruit and the cost of harvesting anism and the front portion of the collecting the crop is comparatively high. trough; Y l

It is an object of my present invention to pro- Fig. 3 is a cross section taken substantially on 70 vide a comparatively simple and highly eillcient tthe line 3--3 of Fig. 1, looking 'in the direction of machine which is constructed to travel over the' the arrows; ground and which will very rapidly pick and col- Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, of the collect prune plums and other fruit and nuts, such lecting -trough detached;

as walnuts, reproducing,A as nearly as possible, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevationshowing 75 the picking action of the human hand inl order .a portion of. one of the endless carrier elements that tender fruit and the like may be cleanly or chains with several of the picker elements oppicked without bruising. eratively attached thereto;

It is a further object to provide a. machine Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6 6 of the class described vwhich may be conveniently of Fig. 5 showing one of the picker elements, the 80 controlled, which may travel between the rows dotted lines indicating the open or receiving poof trees and beneath the branches of low trees, sition of said elements; such as prune trees and which will pick the fruit Fig. '7 is a detail cross section taken substan- .or other articleswithout removing soil, dirt or tially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 illustrating the efrubbish. flcient camming action for opening or retract- 85 More specifically it is an object to lprovide a ing the ngers of the picker elements; picking machine of the class described which Fig. 8 is a` detail View illustrating the construcutilizes a series of parallel parting bars or blades tion of one of the spring guards for assuring the disposed at substantially the level of the ground alignment of the picker elements as they move for defining a series of narrow lanes wherein the toward the camming wheel at the front of the 90 articles arrange themselves in rows for picking machine; and to associate with said parting bars or blades Fig. 9 is adetail view partly in elevation and picking mechanism whereby the articles are inpartly in horizontal section showing clutch mechdividually grasped without danger of bruising anism for disconnecting the source of driving or piercing and are removed and carried to colpower with the 'picker mechanism, and 95 lection apparatus mounted rearwardly of the Fig. 10 is a detail section showing a form of Y' picker on the machine. friction, slip clutch associated with the .driven Another object is to 4provide a machine ofthe shaft of the picker mechanism.`

class described which preferably will carry its Fig. `11 is an inside detail view showing the atown source of propelling `and driving pOWer, tachment'of one of the spring guard and center- 100 which will make provisions for variations and iring ngers to one of the parting blades. regularities inthe contour of the ground and In the form of the invention illustrated an which has facilities for displaying the fruit or elongated substantially rectangular main frame -other articles for observation as they are co1- 11 is provided, supported somewhat rearwardly lected. y of its forward end by a pair of relatively large 105 Another object is to provide in a picking mawheels 12 which are journaled on a stationary chine of the class described endless chains or axle 13 mounted in a pair of depending holsters other carrier elements upon which the picker 14. A pair of steering wheels 15 support the rear elements are mounted: and to synchronize' the of the frame 11 and as shown are mounted on 'movement or speed `of the carrier elements with suitable spindle structures 16 connected with the 110 outer ends of stationary axle 13 which axle is secured to the lower ends of depending bolsters 17. 'I'he spindle arms for the steering wheels 15 are connected together in conventional manner by a suitable tie rod 18 and the tie rodis connected with one end of a bell crank steering lever 19 which is actuated by means of a link 20 connected with a steering lever 21 fulcrumed on one of the longitudinal channels of frame 11. The connection between the rear end or arm of bell crank 19 with the tie rod isv made by pin and slot.

A subframe 22 is suspended from. the medial portion of the main frame 11 and carries a platform 22a disposed considerably below the top of frame 11, upon which platform a suitable source of power, such as an internal combustion engine 24 is mounted, connected for driving an electrical generator 24 which is also supported from plat form 22a and which as shown is disposed directly in advance of the engine 24. Generator 24 supplies electrical energy for operating a pair of electrical motors M which may be conveniently attached to a cross barv 11a of the main frame forwardly of the generator. The armature shafts of motors M are axially aligned and extend transversely of frame 11l and each motor is. provided with reduction gearing mechanism 25 which may also be supported from the cross bar 11a. The power take off shafts of the two reduction gearing mechanisms 25 are each connected for driving one of the Wheels 12 by suitable means such-as a chain 26 and sprockets 27 and 28. Sprockets 27 are each fixed to a sleeve rigidly secured to onev of the Wheels. One of the wheels 12 (see Figs. 2 and 3) rigidly carries an outwardly projecting sleeve 29 which has aixed thereto a power take off sprocket 30 for driving the picker mechanism.

It will be noted that each of the traction wheels 12 is independently driven by its appropriate electrical motor M. The electrical connections between the generator and the two electric motors M are made in such manner that a 'differential action of the traction wheels is obtained when the vehicle turns or follows a curved path. Suitable control means, such as an electrical controller or a conventional starting rheostat is provided in the electrical circuit for the motors whereby the vehicle may be started or stopped or the speed varied within,' of course certain limits.

The picker mechanism is mounted and preferably counterbalanced on the forward end of frame 11. As shown, I provide an angularly shaped carrier frame CF which may conveniently comprise a series of vertically spaced frame members 31 having substantially horizontal base portions 31a which constitute parting bars or blades disposed edgewise to the ground and upwardly extending arms 31b which are inclined at an obtuse angle to the base portions 31a. The several frame members 31 are secured rigidly together in spaced relation by means of a transverse rod 32 passing through projections or lugs 31e provided at the forward ends thereof, spacing sleeves 33 being interposed between the several frame pieces. A second rod 34 extends through intermediate portions of the frame members 31 (see Figs. 1 and 2) said intermediate portions extending considerably above the level of the parting blades 31a and being formed as a grill work to minimize the weight of the frame members. Spacing sleeves 35 are mounted on rod 34 interposed between the several frame members 31. A third tie rod 36 equipped with suitable spacing sleeves connects the upper jacent the forward end o f the machine.

portions of the inclined arms 31h rigidly spacing the frame members apart as desired.

As shown, the several parting blades or'bars 31a define aseries of narrow lanes at substantially the ground level and a picker mechanism including an endless carrier such as a chain 37 carrying a series of individual picker elements E is associated with each of the lanes so formed. The several endless carriers or chains 37 are trained about upper and lower camming sheaves 38, said two series of camming sheaves as illustrated being identical inconstructlon and each comprising a pair of. deeply concave disks 38a integrally formed if desired with a medially disposed sprocket 38h which engages the chain. 'I'he lower series of camming sheaves 38 are loosely mounted upon a stationary shaft3l9. which may be conveniently clamped by suitable split brackets 40 provided by the grating portion disposed above the parting blades 31a and connected therewith. The upper series of camming sheaves 38 are loosely mounted upon a stationary or floatingl shaft 41 which is mounted in a series of shaft supporting blocks 42, "one being provided, as shown', for each of the frame members 31 and each being slidably mounted in a bifurcated portion of its respective frame member at the upper end of inclined arm 31h thereof. Compression springs 43 urge blocks 42 upwardly or outwardly to properly tension the chains 37 and said springs are provided with suitable adjustment devices 44 of conventional type. y

The several endless chainsor carriers 37 are driven in counter-clockwise direction by a series of' driving sprockets 45 which are fixed to a rotary shaft 46 journaled in suitable bearings provided by the reticulated or grating portions of the several frame members 31. Shaft 46 is disposed rearwardly of the stationary shaft 39 upon which the lower series of camming sheaves are journaled and is disposed slightly above the level of shaft 39 'for a purpose later to be explained. It will be noted that sprockets 45 in cooperation with the lower camming sheaves 38 distend the chains or carriers 37 in such manner that short runs of the several chains are disposed substantially parallel with the ground at some distance thereabove ad- Shaft 46 is provided at one of theprojecting ends thereof with a sprocket 46a loosely mounted thereon and said sprocket is frictionally connected for driving said shaft by means of a friction clutch comprising a disk 47 urged outwardly against the inner friction face of sprocket 46a by suitable means such as a coil spring 48, said disk 47 having a hub 47a which is keyed or connected by slot and pin with the shaft 46 (see Figs. 2 and 10).

The end frame members 31 are provided at their lower and outer extremities with rigidly secured extension parting blades 49. A creeper wheel shaft is journaled in the two extension parting blades and extends transversely of the machine at the front thereof, having affixed to the ends thereof creeper wheels 50a disposed outwardly of the blades. Horizontal guard strips 49a are secured to extension blades 49 and disposed outwardly of the creeper wheels 50a to deflect articles, such as fruit, outwardly of the picker mechanism to prevent crushing thereof beneath the creeper wheels 50a. One of the projecting ends of creeper wheel shaft 50 has ailixed theretoa sprocket 51 which is connected for driving by an endless chain 52 with a driving sprocket 53 aiixed to the corresponding end of the shaft 46 on which the several driving sprockets for the 54 pivoted, by suitable means such as bolt 54a, to

spaced lugs 37a provided on opposite sides of the endless chain 37. The two cooperating fingers 54 of each element are urged together as shown by a small contractile spring 55, the ends of which may be connected to apertured lugs disposed outwardly of the pivot bolts 54a. The article engag.

ing portions of the bifurcated fingers are substantially fiat and are curved slightly inwardly to more efficiently cooperate in grasping the fruit or other article. Fingers 54 rigidly carry thickened and inwardly extending camming arms 54h which are curved substantially in conformance with the camming surfaces 'or inner peripheries of the camming sheaves 38, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

V-shaped spring guards 56 are mounted on narrow arms 56a,whic\h overhang the lower series of camming sheaves 38, one ofsaid arms being in- Ytegrally formed with each of the frame members proach the same. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 7,

arcuate bars 57 are provided on theforward portions of each of the frame members 31, these arcuate bars extending from the overhanging bars 56a to the parting blades 31a and extending con- 'centric with the camming sheaves 38. These arcuate bars lie in substantially the same plane as the other portions oi' the respective frame members 31 and are rabbeted at 57a to engage and guide the outer ends of the picker fingers 54. The fingers are thus maintainedin correctly aligned position to pass within the appropriate lanes defined by the parting blades 31a as they travel downwardly and around the lower series of camming sheaves.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, I provide, adjacent the forward ends of the several parting blades 31a, spring fingers 58, two' of these cooperating and being provided for each of the lanes. Fingers 58 are in the form of leaf springs and extend downwardly and rearwardlywith their forward ends riveted or otherwise attached to the respective parting blades. The parting blades are rabbeted, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, in order that the lower edges of the flanges thereof may guard the tips of the picker fingers as they move to-V ward the ground line, preventing said tips from puncturing or injuring the fruit. The free ends of the spring fingers 58 extend inwardlyof the cooperating picking fingers resiliently holding the same in close relation to the parting blades and likewise deiiecting slightly and centering the fruit or other articles to be picked within the defined lanes. With this structure there is no chance for contact of the picker fingers with the fruit until the respectivepairs of ngers have passed a point where they are approximately perpendicular with the ground and where they have cleared the free ends of the spring guard and centering ngers 58.

A proteceive netting or guard 59 covers the outer or top portion of the picker mechanism, including the fingers and the endless carriers and as shown this guard or netting is mounted upon the arcuate portions 57 of the picker frame adjacent the forward end thereof and extends to sectors 60 which may be integrally formed with the upper ends of the arms 31h ofthe frame members and is affixed to sectors 60.

'I'he entire picker mechanism including the carrier frame CF, the endless carriers, creeper wheels, sprockets and camming sheaves is preferably counter-balanced on the forward end of the main frame l1 and to this end the end frame members 31 are provided at the proper points with upwardly and forwardly extending brackets 61 rigidly connected with the arms 31h, which brackets are swlngably mounted onv a strong transverse shaft 62 journaled in suitable bearings 62a which are supported below the outer ends of the journal members which constitute the main vehicle frame 11. The counter-balanced carrier or picker frame CF may be lifted at its forward end a predetermined distance by a suitable means such as a flexible element or cable 63 connected with the upper end of the arms 3lb and passing beneath a small sheave mounted on frame 11 and connected with means such as a lever 64 which carries a spring tooth cooperating with a sector 64a mounted on the vehicle frame.

The power for driving the picker mechanism including the carrier chains37 as well as the creeper wheels is derived from the heavy shaft 62. Shaft 62 has aiiixed to one of its projecting ends a suitable sprocket 65 which is connected for driving by a chain 66 with the power take off sprocket 30 fixed to one of the traction wheels 12, as shown, at the left hand side of the machine. Shaft 62 at the opposite end from sprocket 65 carries a driving sprocket 67 which is fixed to a clutch sleeve 67a` loosely mounted on shaft 62. 115 Sprocket 67 is connected for driving sprocket 46a at the right hand end of the chain driving shaft 46 by means of a short chain 68. Suitable clutch mechanism 69 is provided for connecting and disconnecting sprocket 67 with 'shaft 62. As 120 shown, said clutch mechanism includes a clutch sleeve 69a, the longitudinal movement of which is controlled by means of a shipper lever 70. Shipper lever 70 is pivoted to the right hand side and forward end of the vehicle frame 11 and may be actuated by means of a cable 71 which is connected at its rear end to a suitable sector equipped lever '72, mounted on the right hand side of frame 11.

Power take ofi' sprocket 30 and sprockets 65, 130 67, 46a and the endless chain driving sprockets 45 are of such sizes and proportions that the chain driving sprockets 45, at their peripheries, will turn at the same speed at all times as the turning movement of the traction wheels 12, whereby the 135 travel of the endless carriers with the pickers thereon will be precisely synchronized at the short and lower run of the endless carriers with the travel of the machine over the ground.

Mounted on the vehicle frame 11 is a s1ight1y1140 declined collecting trough 73 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Trough 73 has a relatively Wide receiving portion 73a traveling substantially the entire width of frame l1 and which comunicates with relatively narrow longitudinal legs '13b ex- 145 tending longitudinally of the frame 11 and terminating at the rear of the vehicle at a point considerably above a suspended platform 74 which is adapted to accommodate a receptacle such as a crate or lug box. Diverging guide boards 73e assist in properly guiding the delivered articles such as fruit or nuts to the narrow legs 73h.

The fruit or other articles picked are delivered at the upper and rearward end of the carrier frame, at that time the cooperating fingers 54 of the several picker elements being expanded by the camming sheave 38. To facilitate the delivery of the dropped fruit or articles to trough 73, I provide a pan 75 which may be in the form of a transverse sheet metal plate telescopically overlapping the enlarged forward edge of trough 73 and supported by and rigidly secured to a pair of swingable arms 76 which are pivoted at their forward ends to the upper portions of the inclined end pieces 31h of the carrier frame. The swingable mounting of pan 75 assures proper delivery of the dropped fruit. or articles in all operative positions of the angular picker or carrier frame as it passes over irregularities in the contour of the ground.

An operators seat 77 is conveniently mounted between the longitudinal legs 73h of the collecting trough at a point above the generator 24 and accessible to the steering lever 21, the carrier frame adjusting lever 64 and the clutch operating lever 72.

If desired and especially in view of the fact that my machine carries an electrical generator, flood lights or headlights may be mounted on the frame to illuminate .the ground and the collecting and inspection trough in order that the machine may be operated successfully at night.

Operation My machine may be moved under its own power to the location Where the prunes, fruit or other articles are tobe picked at which time the picker or carrier frame CF is tilted backwardly with the parting blades and creeper wheels disposed a short distance above the ground level and held in that position by means of the cable 63 actuated by the lever 64. The starting, stopping and speed of the machine is controlled from the drivers seatthrough the conventional electrical controller or starting rheostat provided in the electrical circuit for the driving motors M.

In the picking operation elevating lever 64 is released, the forward end of the picker frame being then supported by creeper wheels 50a from the ground. Clutch controlling lever 72 is then actuated to set the picking mechanism in operation and the machine is then driven over the ground, operating upon a swath in each of its courses. The prunes, nuts or other articles to be picked are caused to arrange themselveswithin the lanes dened by parting blades .31a in rows extending longitudinally of the machine and any articles directly in the path of 'the parting blade extensions 49 will be deflected laterally, .either inwardly or outwardly of the path of the picking mechanism and cannot be crushed by the creeper wheels 50a, the traction wheels 12 or steering wheels or drums 15. The fingers 54 of the picker elements E as they travel between the upper and lower camming sheaves 38 in counter-clockwise direction are normally held in closed position by the contractile springs 55. As the elements pass around the camming sheaves in a tangential course the curvedl camming arms 54h of fingers 54 are engaged by the inner peripheries of the disks 38a of the camming sheaves swinging the elongated grasping ends of the ngers outwardly into open position. This camming action is substantially frictionless in that the carrier chains 37 are meshed with the sprocket portions 38h of the camming sheaves, the camming sheaves therefore being synchronized with the travel of the chains. The cooperating flngers 54 of the successive picker elements E pass forwardly and downwardly around the lower series of camming sheaves 38 guided by the arcuate bars at the forward portion of the carrier frame and then are accurately guided'in the lanes dened by the rabbeted portions of the parting blades and by the spring guiding and protecting fingers 58 which are carried by the sides of the parting blades at the forward portions thereof. The articles to be picked are centered in the respective lanes by the action of fingers 58 and as clearly shown in Fig. 7 are disposed' between the cooperating lingers of the picker elements. Immediately upon disengagement of the camming arms 54h of the fingers from the lower camming sheave the fingersare urged to closed position by the contractile springs 55, grasping the fruit or articles without rubbing or chang the same against the ground inasmuch as the speed of the endless carriers or chains 37 between camming sheaves 38 and driving sprockets 45 is perfectly synchronized with the travel of the machine over the ground. Driving sprockets 45 for the endless chains are disposed slightly above the level of the camming sheaves 38 in order that the articles picked may be gradually elevated from the ground immediately after they are grasped. The picked articles are then elevated to points below the upper series of camming sheaves 38 where the'camming action previously described is repeated with reference to the cooperating lingers 54 and said fingers are again swung'to open position releasing the picked fruit upon the pan 75 and the forward end of the collecting and inspection trough. The operator of the machine as well as attendants standing on the rear platform 74 may observe the articles picked and delivered'and may throw out by hand any few stones or clods which may be picked. The articles are conveyed by the longitudinal legs 73b of the collecting trough to receptacles or crates disposed on the rear platform 74, and the receptacles may be removed to the ground by the attendants when filled.

The traction wheels 12 and steering wheels or rollers 15 are preferably of such widths as to slightly pack the surface of the ground behind the picker mechanism, leaving the ground in the desired condition to receive the further dropping of the articles, such as fruit or nuts.

In the operation of the picker mechanism over uneven ground, elevating lever 64 is disposed in released position and the angular picker or carrier frame may tilt forwardly or rearwardly on the axisof shaft 62 to most efficiently conform to the contour. The forward end of the picker frame is supported upon the creeper wheels 50a and the traction of these wheels assist the travel of the frame and parting blades and through the uppermost surface of theI ground.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the picking of the fruit or otherl articles, auf tomatically arranged in rows in the several lanes. is `continuous and that practically every article approximating normal size which is within the connes of the parting blades will be grasped and conveyed by .my mechanism. The picking operation reproduces very closely the actual grasp-- ing and removal of articles by the human hand and with my cooperating fingers 54 of the'picking elements E very little pressure is required to grasp, remove and elevate such articles as'prunes,

apricots, apples and other fruit and walnuts. In

operation upon prime plums I have found that a pressure onV the cooperating fingers o! the picker elements of less than six ouncesisentirely adequate. Attention is also called to the fact that due to the swinging action of the picker elements and the spacing that articles varying considerably in dimensions may be successfully handled with my improved machine. i

It will be further seen that the articles will be individually and cleanly picked without accumulation ofdirt, rubbish and the like.

The clutch mechanism 69 for controlling the operation of the picking mechanism, it will be noticed, is purposely constructed so that if the travel of the vehicle is reversed it will be impossible to drive the endless carriers 37, thereby preventing damage to the picker elements and other working parts. 'Ihe friction clutch mech-` anism illustrated in detail in Fig. 10 is for the purpose of obviating injury to the picker mechanism as well as to the fruit in the event that an obstacle such as a large rock, stump or the like is encountered. y

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement of the parts, Without departing from the scope of my invention, which generally stated consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects labove set forth and in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimediszl l. In a picking machine, an endless flexible element, means for driving the same and a series of picker elements mounted on said endless flexible element each comprising at least a pair of cooperating grasping fingers.

2. In a picking machine, an endless flexible element, a mounting for said element adapted to hold a portion thereof adjacent the ground, a series of individual picker elements mounted on said endless element, each of said picker elements comprising at least a pair of cooperating grasping fingers, means for driving said endless element and means for actuating said picker elements as they approach a position adjacent the ground.

3. A picking machine4 comprising a frame adapted to travel over the ground, an endless iiexible carrier element, means supported from said frame on which said carrier element is mounted, means for positioning a run of said carrier element substantially parallel and adjacent the ground and a series of individual picker elements mounted on said endless carrier element.

4. A picking machine comprising a frame mounted for travel over the ground, an endless carrier member supported from said frame and extending in inclined relation to`A the ground,

means for positioning a portion of said endless carrier substantially parallel to and slightly above the ground level, means for driving said endless carrier in the direction of travel of' said frame and at the same speed as the speed of travel of said frame anda series of individual picker elements mounted on said endless carrier.

5. A' picking machine comprising a' frame 'mounted for travel over the ground, an endless of said frame and a series of individual picker elecarrier member supported from said frame and extending in inclined relation to the ground, means for positioning a` portion of said endless carrier substantially parallel to and slightly above the ground level, means for driving said endless carrier in the direction of travel of said frame and at the same speed as the speed of travel of .said frame, a series of individual picker elements mounted on said endless carrier, said picker elements each comprising atleast a pair of grasping iingers,` means4 for actuating the iingers of said picker elements as they are brought into proximity with the ground, and means adjacent the upper portion of said carrier for releasing said picker elements to drop articles carried.

-7. A picking machine comprising a frame mounted for ytravel over the g rounda carrier frame swingably mounted on said iirst mentioned frame, ground-engaging means for supporting the outer end of said .carrier frame, an endless carrier mounted in said carrier frame and extending in inclined relation to the ground, a series of picker elements mounted on said endless carrier, means for actuating said picker elements adjacent the forward end of said frame for opening said elements and subsequently closing the same about material to be picked upon the ground, means adjacent the upper and rear end of said carrier for opening'said picker elements to release 'material picked and means for driving said carrier at a speed synchronized with the travel of said main frame over the ground.

8. A picking machine comprising a frame mounted for travel over thel ground, a series of horizontal parting blades supported-from said frame with their lower edges substantially in engagement with the ground, saidl blades extending longitudinally of the machine and deiining a series of parallel lanes, a series of endless carriers supported from said frame in inclined position to the ground, each of said carriers working in one of said lanes and a series of contractile picker elements mounted on said endless carriers and means for mounting a portion of each of said endless carriers in position slightly above the ground level.

9. In picker mechanism, van endless carrier element and a seriesof picker elements mounted thereon, each 'of said picker elements comprising at least a pair of ngers and means for urging said ngers together and means associated with said endless .carrier forl intermittently retracting the ngers of said picker elements and releasing the same.v

l0. A picking machine comprising a frame mounted for travelover the ground, a series of horizontal parting blades supported from said frame-with their lower edges disposed adjacent the ground, said blades extending longitudinally of the-machine and defining a series of parallel lanes, endless carrier means supported by said frame and several series of picker elementsv mounted on said carrier means, each of said series working in one ofsaid lanes.

11. A picking and harvesting machine comprising. a frame -mounted forl travel. over the ground, endless carrier means supported from said' frame and extending in rearwardly inclined rier means for releasing material picked and carried by said picker elements and means supported from said frame and disposed below said last mentioned means for receiving the released material.

12. A picking and harvesting machine comprising a frame mounted for travel over the ground, endless carrier means supported from said frame and extending in rearwardly inclined relation to the ground, said carrier means extending at its forward and lower end to a position just above the ground, a multiplicity of individual picker elements mounted on said endless carrier means, said picker yelements each comprising cooperating grasping members, means adjacent the rear and upper portion of said carrier means for releasing material pickedv and carried by said picker elements, an inspection trough mounted on said frame and having its forward end disposed below said last mentioned means lfor receiving and conveying rearwardly the released material and means for collecting material discharged from said trough.

13. In picker mechanism, an endless carrier element, a camming sheave about which said carrier element is trained, said camming sheave having oppositely inclined camming surfaces formed on its periphery, a series of picker elements mounted on said endless carrier and each comprising a pair of fingers and means for urging' said fingers into cooperation, said fingers having arms projecting inwardly of said carrier element for engagement with the inclined camming surfaces of said sheave for retracting said fingers and subsequently releasing the same.

` 14. In picker mechanism, an endless chain, a camming sheave having a centrally disposed sprocket about which said chain is trained, said sheave having also a pair of oppositely .inclined camming surfaces disposed at the sides of said sprocket, a series of picker elements mounted on said endless chain and each comprising a pair of cooperating fingers, means for urging said fingers together, said fingers having arms projecting inwardly of said chain for engagement with the inclined camming surfaces of said sheave to retract the fingers and subsequently release the same.

15. A picking and harvesting machine comprising a wheel-supported frame, a carrier frame supported from said first mentioned frame, an endless carrier mounted in said carrier frame and extending in inclined relation to the ground, the forward and lower end of said endlessA carrier being disposed just above the ground level, a series l of picker elements mounted on said endless carrier and driving connections between one of the wheels of said frame and said endless carrier for4 driving said carrier at its lower run in the direction of travel of said frame and at the same speed as the speed of travel of said frame over the ground.

16. In a picking machine, an endless carrier member, means for positioning a portion of said member substantially parallel to and slightly above the ground level, means for driving said endless carrier member, a series of individual picker elements mounted on said endless carrier each being adapted to grasp and remove an article from the ground, means associated with a portion of said carrier adjacent the ground for actuating said picker elements to grasp and remove` an article and means removed some distance from the ground and associated with said picker elements for actuating the same to release articles carried. r

ARTHUR J. BEHLING. 

